Preparing for a rainy day

We have been a bit slack lately and have let our supplies get a little low. Maybe not low by some peoples standards - we could probably live a few weeks on what we have here with a little creativity and a lot of monotony - but it is not as organised as I would like it to be. So, at the moment I am working on restocking and making sure we have a reasonable amount in reserve for that proverbial or literal rainy day.

Last year during all the floods I was reminded how important stockpiles can be.  We are in a good position here on a hill so our biggest problem is being cut off rather than washed away. As we have quite a few low creek crossings on the road to our place though, that can happen fairly quickly, so it pays to make sure we have enough supplies here to last should we need them.  Last year we were cut off for a while and in reality it didn't really affect us much - apart from having to stay home - as we had what we needed right here.  I must admit to being aghast, however, when the radio reported that food drops were being arranged for people living in a rural 'lifestyle block' area a bit closer to the city as their properties had been cut off from town and they were desperate for supplies .... after only two days!  Are some people really that unprepared and undersupplied?  Particularly those that live out of town?  How long could you last on your supplies?

Other events have reinforced my belief that being prepared is practical.  The eathquakes in New Zealand and the experiences of friends and family there brought the need to be prepared for the 'unexpected' back home to me. I was reminded of that again this week by a friend in the US who has lived for over a week without power and running water and limited road access after major storms. Remember that no power may also mean no ATM access and no money to buy things - if you can get anywhere to buy it in the first place. So, we are stocking up again so that a shorter term emergency at least doesn't become more stressful that it needs to be.

There are lots of tips on the net about how to stockpile.  One of my favourite forums Aussies Living Simply discusses this quite frequently and there is lots of great advice there on how to go about it.  The bare basics though are really a decent safe water supply and a decent food supply.  For us water is not such a major issue.  We rely on tanks so have a ready supply right here.  I do keep a supply of water in bottles and containers in our pantry too though. Food wise I have been trying to keep a supply of drygoods.  Flour, rice, pasta, salt, milk powder, dried beans & peas and so on.  Then there is a supply of canned and bottled goods. Canned goods that can be eaten cold in an emergency or used with things like rice to bulk them out. Oil and vinegar and canned vegetables like tomatoes and corn and such.  Surplus from the garden that has been preserved.  I really need to do more of this, but we have a few things. One of my aims this year is to grow enough to put away as well as eat fresh. Our wood heater has an oven and stovetop, and we have a gas BBQ and portable camping stove, so we can boil water and cook.

Our garden, chooks and other livestock also provide us with supplies too and should help in a longer term situation as well as the short term. The more self sufficient we are the less we have to worry that we can't run down to the shops because the road is cut or there is no fuel or power or the supermarket will be closed for the day...or longer.  I just don't want to be like those people who need foods drops just because they can't go shopping on a rainy day.